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A Filipina wife who doesn't really want to return.....

Discussion in 'Expat Section' started by garbonzo, Feb 20, 2019.

  1. liannastar

    liannastar DI Member

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    Agreed, Chinese people in America are a plenty, and they live a good life.

    However, I was simply trying to make the point that a foreigner should expect to pay way more for imported goods than local products.

    You can use anyone, not just Chinese people as an example. Imported goods are always going to cost more. The same goes for things that are less available.
     
  2. furriner

    furriner DI Forum Adept Restricted Account

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    Well, you say not 3K but don’t say how many actual k so I have no comment. If you say 1k and you are single I will say you are by no means alone but some would consider it living on the edge. But it seems many can do a beer diet with vitamin T-5 supplements on 1k ( just kidding).


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  3. TheDude

    TheDude DI Forum Patron Highly Rated Poster

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    You were missing the point of the most recent threads.

    The issue isn't how much you spend or what sort of lifestyle you live. The issue is how much resources you have available to you when you come here. Go ahead and live like a local if you wish. But you need to have the resources to put yourself above the typical U.S. income. If you are going to move yourself outside the system which supplements a "below mean" income (and which you paid for) then you need to be able to make up for that loss.

    Unfortunately, we're sort of like worker ants. We work and live in a certain hive for a certain queen. If we get separated from the hive, then we'll die. You have to be extraordinary to be in a position to break away from the hive. Being "above mean" in the U.S. puts you about where @furriner is saying you should have as an income.

    This is just for people in the US. This gets worse as your country gets more socialist and you have to pay more taxes. You get less money to do as you like and have to rely on the government even more. That's for another thread though. :wink:

    Just because you can live here with below mean resources doesn't mean it's a good idea. You're doing a tight-rope act with no net to catch you. That can work long enough that you think it's no problem. But when you do run into a problem, it's up to friends and family to bail you out.
     
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  4. liannastar

    liannastar DI Member

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    Isnt there an old saying like a penny saved is a penny earned?

    What exactly is the difference between being able to live simple and on small income because you are a person who can give up expensive habits and things you are accustomed to vs living like a king because you have more than adequate resources?

    The only differnece I see is in the person imo.

    Also, living simple and on limited resources doesn't have to go hand in hand with having no bail out plan. Everyone should have a plan B that is well thought out, funded, and untouched!

    And I will end this post with what I have always say.. Moving to PI to retire is NOT for everyone.. In fact, for most people, it is not.
     
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  5. TheDude

    TheDude DI Forum Patron Highly Rated Poster

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    In general it does. If you didn't have the means to engineer a reliable income which puts you above 50% of (stick with my example) Americans then how are you going to have the means to engineer a bail-out plan?

    Note: Mean (50%) household income in the U.S. would put each earner at about the level which @furriner has quoted.

    If you don't have that income, then you're broke anywhere outside your home country. Stay home and figure out how to make more money if you want to move to a different country.

    Otherwise your bail-out plan is to ask friends and family for money. You should ask them if they are okay with being your bail-out plan before you do this though.

    People who have lots of money and can't put together a USD $3K income are just stupid and I'm not sure they exist. Your resources (investments) should be generating this much if you have a large nest egg. We don't have to worry about these people though, so let's not get stuck on this point.

    Once you can check that box, then live how you like. Spend every cent that you can sustainably allocate of a monthly budget or live well below that means.
     
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  6. Mark K

    Mark K DI Member

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    Goodness me, I didn't realize my comment would upset some people. I certainly didn't expect to be called "idiotic", and told "why don’t you go the your first world country and play with yourself on the freeway during rush hour, blindfolded".

    I was simply trying to express that I don't think it's possible to live a "Western" lifestyle in The Philippines.

    I apologize if I upset anyone by not agreeing with everything they say. I thought that was the purpose of a forum: to express our opinions in a mature way.

    Anyway, apologies to those people again, and wish them, and indeed anyone who is reading this, a pleasant stay in this wonderful country. I'm off to catch a jeepney and eat some balut:smile:

    P.S. My comment about not marrying a local in order to spend less money was supposed to be a bit of light hearted banter.
     
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  7. grandpainak

    grandpainak DI Forum Patron Showcase Reviewer

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    Mark K,
    No need to apologize if you upset anyone. The last time I thought about it this chat board was the same as all the others on the net. I think it's great that you were able to post something that generated that many replies, is good. So please stick around this place can always use another poster that can get us thinking and posting. I think this place can always use another inquisitive mind.
    I started a post on April 15 2007, not expecting much in the way of replies. As of this morning there are 3561 replies on 357 pages and it is still getting replies. So please put a smile on and keep posting. For me a good heated tread is good as long as it dose not turn into something hurtful.
    Be provocative not a troll.:smuggrin: :wink:
     
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  8. furriner

    furriner DI Forum Adept Restricted Account

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    And my apologies as well. I checked my post and realized that I did not mean to say “blindfolded” lol. Watch out for those jeepneys and especially the balut


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  9. jimeve

    jimeve DI Forum Luminary Highly Rated Poster Showcase Reviewer Veteran Army

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    I remember that one Jim, Great thread and still going strong.
     
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  10. Notmyrealname

    Notmyrealname DI Forum Luminary Highly Rated Poster Showcase Reviewer

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    I don't think anyone expected it. Apologies for those who have no manners.
     
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